A rental scam that left up to 30 victims homeless and facing huge losses has
led to urgent calls for the Government to regulate the lettings market.

The tenants paid as much as £2,400 each in deposit to a man they believed to
be a landlord, after viewing a one-bedroom flat in Islington, London. Many
signed official-looking contracts and were given keys.

However, when they showed up on their agreed move-in date, they found the
front gate padlocked and a note in the window, which read: “This property is
NOT for rent! If you have paid a deposit and/or rent